Observing Passover in Newton: What You Need to Know

It’s time to break out the matzo. Passover (Pesach) arrives today, March 25, at sundown and ends at sundown on Tuesday, April 2. Here are some local resources for all your Passover needs:

Newton restaurants/bakeries kosher for Passover:

Information provided by Kashrut.com.

• Taam China
• Blacker's Bake Shop
• Rosenfeld Bagel Co.
• J.P. Licks

Inna's Kitchen in Newton Centre also offers Passover food. Check out their website for more details. 

Know of any other Newton eateries that are kosher? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Recipes for Passover:

• Passover breakfast recipes: Matzo Brei and Matzo Meal Polenta
• No-Fail Matzo Balls and Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Service times at Newton synagogues:

CHABAD OF NEWTON CENTRE, 32 Loring St., Newton Centre

• Mon., March 25 - Evening services: 6:55 p.m.
• Tues., March 26 & Wed., March 27 - Morning services: 10:30 a.m.; Evening services: 7 p.m.
• Sun., March 31 - Evening services: 7 p.m.
• Mon., April 1 - Morning services: 9 a.m.; Evening services: 7 p.m.
• Tues., April 2 - Morning services: 9:30 a.m.

CHABAD AT CHESTNUT HILL, 163 Bellingham Road, Chestnut Hill

• Mon., March 25 - Evening services: 6:30 p.m.
• Tues., March 26 - Morning services: 9:30 a.m.; Evening services: 6:30 p.m.
• Wed., March 27 - Morning services: 9:30 a.m.; Evening services: 7:20 p.m.
• Sun., March 31 - Evening services: 6:30 p.m.
• Mon., April 1 - Morning services: 9:30 a.m.; Evening services: 7:30 p.m.
• Tues., April 2 - Morning services: 9:30 a.m.

CONGREGATION BETH EL-ATERETH ISRAEL, 561 Ward St., Newton Centre

• Mon., March 25 - Morning service: 6:15 a.m.; Mincha service: 6:50 p.m.; Maariv service: 7:10 p.m.
• Tues., March 26 - Morning service: 9:30 a.m.; Mincha service: 6:50 p.m.; Maariv service: 7:30 p.m.
• Wed., March 27 - Morning service: 9:30 a.m.; Mincha service: 6:50 p.m.; Maariv service: 7:35 p.m. 
• Thurs., March 28 - Morning service: 6:15 a.m.; Mincha/Maariv service: 6:55 p.m.
• Fri., March 29 - Morning service: 6:15 a.m.; Mincha service/Kabbalat Shabbat: 6:55 p.m.
• Sat., March 30 - Morning service: 9 a.m.; Mincha service: 6:45 p.m.; Maariv service: 7:40 p.m.
• Sun., March 31 - Morning service: 8 a.m.; Mincha service: 7 p.m.; Maariv service: 7:15 p.m.
• Mon., April 1 - Morning service: 9 a.m.; Mincha service: 7 p.m.; Maariv service: 7:35 p.m.
• Tues., April 2 - Morning service: 9 a.m.; Mincha service: 7 p.m.; Maariv service: 7:40 p.m.

TEMPLE BETH AVODAH, 45 Puddingstone Ln., Newton Centre

• Tues., March 26 - Second Seder, 6 p.m. in the social hall
• Fri., March 29 - Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. in the sanctuary; Shabbat dinner, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 
• Mon., April 1 - Yizkor service: 8:45 a.m. in the sanctuary 

TEMPLE EMANUEL, 385 Ward St., Newton

• Mon., March 25 - Siyyum HaB'Chorim/Erev Pesach: 6:45 a.m. - 8 a.m.; Evening service: 5:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
• Tues., March 26 - Pesach Morning Minyan: 7 a.m. - 8 a.m.; Pesach services: 10 a.m. - noon in Chiel Sanctuary; Children's Pesach services: 11 a.m. - noon in Room 20; Micha service: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.; Evening service: 5:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
• Wed., March 27 -  Pesach Morning Minyan: 7 a.m. - 8 a.m.; Pesach services: 10 a.m. - noon in Chiel Sanctuary; Children's Pesach services: 11 a.m. - noon in Room 20; Evening service: 6:45 p.m - 7:45 p.m.
• Thurs., March 28 - Pesach Morning Minyan/Chol HaMo'ed: 6:45 a.m. - 8 a.m.; Evening service: 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• Fri., March 29 - Pesach Morning Minyan/Chol HaMo'ed & Erev Shabbat: 6:45 a.m. - 8 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat service: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• Sat., March 30 - Early morning service: 6:45 a.m. - 8 a.m.; Morning services: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in Chiel Sanctuary (special guest speaker Steve Grossman); Ruach Shabbat: 10:45 a.m. - noon; Mincha/Shabbat Chol HaMo'ed: 6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
• Sun., March 31 - Morning Minyan/Chol HaMo'ed: 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.; Evening Minyan/Chol HaMo'ed and Erev Yom Tov: 6:45 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• Mon., April 1 - Early Morning Minyan: 6:45 a.m. - 8 a.m.; Passover morning services: 9:30 a.m. - noon in Chiel Sanctuary; Children's Pesach services: 11 a.m. - noon in Room 20; Evening Minyan: 6:45 p.m - 8 p.m.
• Mon., April 2 - Early Morning Minyan: 6:45 a.m. - 8 a.m.; Passover morning services (Yizkor): 9:30 a.m. - noon in Chiel Sanctuary; Children's Pesach services: 11 a.m. - noon in Room 20; Evening Minyan: 6:45 p.m - 8 p.m.

All services in Gann Chapel except where otherwise noted

CONGREGATION DORSHEI TZEDEK, 60 Highland St., West Newton

• Sat., March 30 - Shabbat morning Passover service: 9:45 a.m.
• Mon., April 1 - Passover service, 9:30 a.m.

TEMPLE REYIM, 1860 Washington St., Auburndale

• Mon., March 25 - Fri., March 29 - Shacharit: 7 a.m.
• Wed., March 27 - Passover reflections: 7 p.m. in the library
• Fri., March 29 - Kabbalat Shabbat services: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the chapel
• Sat., March 30 - Shacharit: 9:30 a.m.
• Mon., April 1 & Tues., April 2 - Shacharit: 7 a.m.

TEMPLE SHALOM OF NEWTON, 175 Temple St., West Newton

• Tues., March 26 - Passover festival morning service: 10 a.m. in Rothman Chapel
• Fri., March 29 - Shabbat evening service with Shir Shalom
• Mon. April 1 - Passover festival morning service with Yizkor: 10 a.m.

THE ADAMS STREET SHUL, 168 Adams St., Nonantum

• Mon., March 25 - Mincha & Maariv: 6:45 p.m.
• Tues., March 26 - Shacharit: 9 a.m.; Mincha & Maariv: 6:45 p.m.
• Wed., March 27 - Shacharit: 9 a.m.; Mincha & Maariv: 7 p.m.
• Thurs., March 28 - Shacharit: 8 a.m.; Mincha & Maariv: 6:45 p.m.
• Fri., March 29 - Shacharit: 8 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat: 6:45 p.m.
• Sat., March 30 - Shacharit: 9 a.m.; Mincha, Third Meal & Maariv: 6:30 p.m.
• Sun., March 31 - Shacharit: 8 a.m.; Mincha & Maariv: 6:45 p.m.
• Mon., April 1 - Shacharit: 9 a.m.; Mincha & Maariv: 6:45 p.m.
• Tues., April 2 - Shacharit (Yizkor): 9 a.m.; Mincha & Maariv: 7 p.m.

Did we miss any events? Make sure to add them in the comments section below!

Passover Traditions

As the story goes, during their flight from slavery, the Jews did not have enough time for their dough to rise, resulting in a flaky cracker that is eaten instead of bread for a full week during Passover. The diet changes go beyond bread, however, and depend on family tradition. As a general rule, just look for the “Kosher for Passover” label, which thankfully spreads to more products year after year.

Prior to the holiday, Jews clean their homes and get rid of chametz—food that is forbidden during Passover. Check to see if any of your local food pantries will accept your chametz or if your fire department is holding a safe burning of the chametz. The day before, this year on March 24, kids have the chance to search their homes by candlelight for any pieces of chametz left behind.

The Seder

On the first two nights of Passover, a Seder is held. This is when the story of Passover is told with the reading of the Haggadah. Some families even dress up and act out the story. Songs are sung, including "Dayenu," and as tradition, children sing the Four Questions, or Ma Nishtana. Over the course of the night, four cups of wine are consumed to celebrate freedom. Bitter herbs are also eaten as a reminder of the pain of the Jewish slaves.

The middle of the holiday, from March 28 to 31, is an intermediate period, or Chol HaMoed, when there are fewer restrictions. On these days more observant Jews are allowed to drive and use electronics, and in rare instances, work. The final two days of Passover fall on April 1 and 2, and are considered Holy Days.

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